HOMEOWNERS have been warned over popular clothes drying tricks that could cause mould and damp in your house.
People have been given new cleaning hacks on how to avoid problems brought about by commonly-used household gadgets.
Drying racks, airers and radiators have been pinpointed as popular devices which risk spreading damp and mould.
Experts from a furniture firm issued seven tips on how to avoid such damage and health dangers – especially important as winter temperatures plunge.
People are being urged to resist the temptation to use radiators or heated airers to dry clothes, because they release more moisture into the air.
Better approaches are said to include spacing out clothing on drying racks and using well-ventilated rooms when bringing laundry indoors.
Ben Slater, from retailer Online Bedrooms, said: “In the winter there’s less opportunity to hang the clothes outside to dry and a lot of people are sceptical about using their tumble dryers and racking up the energy bill.
“This means people will be using drying racks to hang their clothes which is perfectly fine – however, if done incorrectly you could actually cause some damage to your home by creating moisture and dampness.”
He insisted he didn’t want to “put people off using their airers” but recommended they be “placed in well-ventilated rooms and well spaced out to avoid any problems down the line”.
He suggested people could still hang clothes outdoors on dry days, so long as the floor outside is also dry.
The seven recommendations begin with choosing a well-ventilated room, with Ben urging people to avoid small rooms – and considering drying clothes in bathrooms with exhaust fans or utility rooms with windows.
He described how essential to space out clothes, which will not only speed up the drying process but also avoid a damp smell gathering.
Adding an extra 10-minute spin on the washing machine should prove cheaper than using the tumble dryer, it was also suggested.
This can help remove additional water build-up on clothes and prevent you from having to hang up soaking wet items.
He also urged avoiding radiators and heated airers, which spread moisture when wet clothes come into contact with wet heat.
Another recommendation is the so-called “burrito method” – which involves using a towel to soak up laundry’s excess water and moisture.
Ben added: “Rolling the garment tightly into the towel like a burrito before wringing it out will significant speed up the drying process.”
Another option is using a dehumidifier to help remove dampness any rooms where you dry your washing.
And he ended by reminding: “Remember you can still use the outdoors.”
He said: “It can be easy to assume your clothes won’t dry outside in the winter but experts say that if the ground is dry, your laundry should dry too.
“Check the weather beforehand – if the forecast is dry and it’s not too cold, then you should be fine to hang your clothes outdoors.”
The guidance comes after a discounted gadget on sale on Amazon was hailed for drying “a full load of wet washing in three hours”.
Meanwhile, another homes expert warned about the potential humidity damage caused by drying clothes indoors.
Others have provided five tips on mistakes to avoid when drying laundry using an airer.
Yet there have also been recommendations for different humidifiers, including a mum on one which costs 1p to run – as well as how to best use them.
